The document discusses the generations of computing from the first to third generation. The 1st generation used vacuum tubes and were massive in scale and costly. The 2nd generation featured transistors which reduced size and improved reliability over vacuum tubes. The 3rd generation saw the introduction of integrated circuits which provided enhanced performance through consolidated transistors on a single chip.
2. Introduction A computer is an electronic device that manipulates
information into data. While having the ability to
store, retrieve and process data.
Each generation of computers are characterized by
major technological development that changed the
ways computer work.
3. 1st Generation
• “Electronic Numeric Integrated And
Calculator” was the first successful
electronic computer by J.P. Eckert and
J.W. Mauchy.
Notable mentions of this era were
• EDVAC
• IBM-701
• IBM-650
• UNIVAC
5. 2nd Generation
• Through the late 1950’s computer units
featured circuit boards filled with
individual transistors.
• This change took place as vacuum
tubes were bulky, heat radiating and
unreliable.
• First commercial computer was
produced by STC, had 92 point- contact
transistors and 550 diodes.
7. 3rd Generation
• The use of integrated circuits was
introduced.
• IC is a consolidated component
consisting of a number of transistors.
• 1st IC developed at Texas Instruments
by Robert Noyce and Jack Kilby in 1958.
8. Debatable factors
• Advantage
• Enhanced performance
• Introduction to tape drives
• Use of keyboards as input method
• Computational time minimization
• Disadvantage
• Maintenance
• High production cost
• Air conditioning
